Sash guide and balancing spring lock unit for tiltably removable sash windows



- 1969 D. M. TROUT SASH GUIDE AND BALANCING SPRING LOCK UNIT FORTILTABLY REMOVABLHSASH WINDOWS Filed Oct. 24; 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR DONALD M. TROUT ATTO RNEYS Dec. 9, 1969 D. M. TROUT 3,

SASH GUIDE AND BALANCING SPRING LOCK UNIT FOR TILTABLY REMOVABLE SASHWINDOWS Filed Oct. 24, 1968 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 DONAL United StatesPatent 3,482,354 SASH GUIDE AND BALANCING SPRING LOCK UNIT FOR TILTABLYREMOVABLE SASH WINDOWS Donald M. Trout, 15750 Meyers Road, Detroit,Mich. 48227 Filed Oct. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 770,294 Int. Cl. Ed 15/22,13/12 US. Cl. 49-181 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Associated withan elongated sash guide adapted to be mounted on each side of a windowframe is an internally-ribbed longitudinally-slotted spring casing whichcontains a sash balancing spring secured at one end thereto and alsocontains a slide block secured to the other end of said spring andprovided with a transverse bore. Rotatably mounted in this bore is arotary locking cam with a diametral groove at its inner end slidablyreceiving the sash guide rib, and with a radial notch at its outer endremovably receiving one end of a lock-rotating trunnion of matingconfiguration secured to a side of the sash. Tilting of the sash inwardaround this trunnion rotates the locking cam so that its groove rides upto the spring casing rib, thereby jamming the slide block into lockingengagement with the spring casing while the mouth of its notch rotatesfrom a horizontal trunnion-retaining position to a verticaltrunnion-releasing position, whereupon lifting the sash withdraws itstrunnion from its respective notch, after which sidewise tilting of thesash enables removal of the sash from the window frame.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through one side of a sash and windowframe equipped with the sash guide and balancing spring lock unit of thepresent invention, showing the sash in its unlocked vertically-slidingposition.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, at right angles toFIGURE 1 taken along the line 22 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the locking slide of the balancing springlock of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevation of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken along the line 77 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical section mainly is side elevation,taken along the line 88 in FIGURE 1 and showing one of the sashtrunnions;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of one of the sash trunnions looking in thedirection of the line 99 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevation of one of the locking cams removed fromthe slide block; and

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the locking cam shown in FIGURE 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 show adouble-hung tiltably-removable Window sash installation, generallydesignated 10, consisting of a window frame 12 within which twotiltably-removable upper and lower sliding sashes 14 and 16 are slidablymounted. Only the lower sash is shown in FIGURE 1, the upper sash beinga substantial duplicate thereof. Each sash 14 or 16 has side rails 18and is slidably, pivotally and removably mounted in a pair of combinedsash guides and balancing spring lock units 20. Each sash ice 14 or 16,as usual, has a bottom rail 22 and top rail or meeting rail 24. Thewindow frame 12 is provided with the usual side members 26interconnected by top and bottom members 28 and 30 respectively, thelatter being the usual slanting or outwardly-inclined window sill. Theside members 26 in turn are provided with outer and inner edge members32 and 34 respectively (FIG- URE 3) providing an elongated verticalrecess 36 of rectangular or channel cross-section.

Resiliently mounted in each of the recesses 36 is a sash guide 38 whichforms a part of the combined sash guide and balancing spring unit 20 foreach sash 14 or 16. Resilience is imparted to the sash guide 38 byelongated vertically-disposed resilient pads 40 of synthetic foam rubberor foam plastic adhesively secured to the frame side members 26 and tothe rearward walls 42 of the spring casing or channel portion 44 of eachsash guide 38 (-FIGURE 3). The spring casings or channel portions 44 arepreferably formed integral with the front plate 46 of the sash guide 38,such as by being extruded unitarily therewith. The front plate 46 at itsforward and rearward edges has perpendicularly-extending guide flanges48 and 50 respectively, which engage the inner surfaces of the windowframe edge members 32 and 34 respectively. The inner guide flange 50projects slightly beyond the edge flange 34.

Each of the sash side rails 18 is provided with a vertical longitudinalgroove 52 with beveled edges 54 (FIG- URE 3) which are engaged by theopposite edge portions or rib portions 56 of V-shaped cross-sectionintegral with the front plate 46 of each sash guide 38. The rib portions56 are separated from one another by an elongated vertical front openingor slot 58 running from top to bottom of each sash guide 38 atapproximately the midportion of the channel portion 44 thereof. Eachchannel portion 44 has parallel opposite side walls 60 which connect itsrearward wall 42 to the front plate 46. Formed integral with each rearwall 42 is an inwardly-extending rib 62 of truncated V- shapedcross-section.

Mounted in each spring casing channel portion 44 and having its upperloop 64 (FIGURE 1) secured to the top thereof is an elongatedsash-balancing tension spring 66, the lower loop 68 of which is hookedinto a hole 70 (FIGURE 5) in a slide block or body 72 forming onecomponent of a locking slide, generally designated 74, containing arotary locking cam 76 (FIGURES 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11). The slide blockof body 72 has two such spring anchorage holes 70, each adapted toaccommodate either a single spring 66 or, in the case of a heavy sash, apair of springs 66. In either case, the spring or springs 66 would beconcealed behind the portion 78 of the front plate 46 forming the frontwall of each channel portion 44. Each locking slide 74 is verticallyslidable within its respective channel portion 44 and its locking cam'76 is rotatable to lock in its attained position or to release it forsliding motion according to whether the sash 14 or 16 is removed from orslidably mounted in the window frame 12.

The slide block 72 of each locking slide 74 is preferably molded fromsuitable synthetic plastic, such as that known commercially as nylon,and for ease of sliding is provided with opposite edge flanges 80(FIGURE 4). The central portion of each slide block 72 is provided oneone side with a longitudinal groove 82 and also with a transverse bore84 directed toward the slot 58 and receiving the hub 86 of the rotarylocking cam 76. The bore 84 has a counterbore 88 rotatably receiving theenlarged head 90 of the rotary locking cam 76 (FIGURE 7). The head 90has a laterally-extending diametral. groove or depression 92 therein oftruncated V-shaped cross-section mating with and snugly and slidablyengage- 3 able with thelongitudinal rib 62 of each channel portion 44.On the end opposite the head 90, the hub 86 of the cam 76 is providedwith a radial key notch or recess 94 of rectangular cross-section(FIGURES 5 and with a flared open mouth 95 communicating with the groove82. The notch 94 extends over the major part of the diameter of the hub86 and serves to receive the pivot or key portion 96 of an approximatelyL-shaped pivot or trunnion key 98 (FIGURES 1, 8 and 9) having arectangular base or attachment portion 100 which is of the width of thesash side rail groove 52 and has a hole 102 therethrough for receiving afastener 104 (FIGURE 3) by which the trunnion key base 100 is secured tothe sash side rail 18. The pivot or key portion 96 is of rectangularcross-section configured to fit snugly but removably into the notch 94in the hub 86 of its respective locking cam 76. The slide block 72 has agroove 106 (FIGURE 6) co-extensive with and of the same crosssection asthe groove 92 in the head 90.

In the operation of the sash guide and balancing spring lock unit of thepresent invention, let it be assumed that the Working parts are in thepositions shown in FIGURE 1 with the bases 100 of the trunnion keys 108secured in their respective sash rail grooves 52 and with their pivot orkey portions 96 seated in their respective notches 94 in the lockingearns 76 with the grooves 92 and 106 in the cam 76 and slide block 72aligned with one another (FIGURE 6) and slidably engaging theirrespective ribs 62 in the rear walls 42 of their respective channelportions 44 of the sash guides 38. In this position, the mouth of eachnotch 94 is directed horizontally so that the key portion 96 cannot bedisengaged (FIG- URES 2 and 5). Under these conditions, the sash 14 isfreely slidable vertically while guided by the ribs 56 on the frontplate 46 engaging the beveled portions 54 and 56 of its grooves 52(FIGURE 3). At this time, also, the weight of the sash 14 iscounterbalanced by the spring or springs 66. If, on the other hand, thelower sash 16 is in its lowered position, as shown at the left-hand sideof FIGURE 2, the springs 66 are in a tensioned condition.

To remove one of the sashes, for example, the sash 16, the operatorgrasps the upper rail or meeting rail 24 thereof (not shown in FIGURE 2)and swings the upper portion of the sash 16 downward around the pivotportions 96 of the trunnions 98 and locking cams 76 as pivots. As aresult of this action, the mouth 95 of the notch 94 moves from ahorizontally-facing position (FIG- URE 5) to a vertical position (FIGURE2) when the sash 16 reaches the horizontal position shown in dottedlines in FIGURE 2 and in FIGURE 3. The operator then tilts the sash 16in the plane of its respective sash guide channel portion 44, such as bylifting one side rail 18 upward relatively to the other side rail 18,thus lifting one of the pivot portions 96 of one of the trunnions 98 outof its respective notch 94, whereupon the opposite pivot portion 96 mayalso then be moved upward out of its respective notch 94 and the sash 16while still in its laterally-tilted position may then be removed fromthe window opening.

While the locking cam 76 of the sash 16 is being rotated in the abovedescribed manner, its groove 92 rides upward and over the rib 62 of itsrespective channel portion 44 into a transverse position as shown at theupper right-hand corner of FIGURE 3. This action, in effect, thickensthe locking slide 74 so that it becomes jammed between the front andrear walls 46 and 42 of its respective channel portion 44, thus lockingthe balancing spring or springs 66 in a tensioned condition. The removalof the upper sash 14 follows a similar procedure in that it is firstpulled downward and then swung inward to a horizontal position in themanner described above for the lower sash 16 in connection with FIGURES2 and 3.

To replace the sash 16 in the sash guide 38 within the window opening,the operator reverses the foregoing procedure y inserting the sash 16 ina laterallyti ted condition into the window opening, then swinging thesash 16 into a horizontal position while letting its pivot portions 96of its trunnions 98 drop into the now-vertical notches 94 of itsrespective locking cams 76. The operator then swings the sash 16 upwardinto its vertical position, whereupon the consequent rotation of itslocking cams 76 within their respective slide blocks 72 causes the camgrooves 92 to move into alignment with their respective channel portionrib 62, as shown in the lower right-hand corner of FIGURE 2. Thisaction, in effect, thins the locking slides 74 so that they now slidefreely within their respective channel portions 44 with their balancingspring 66 now unlocked and exerting their balancing forces.

Thus, -it will be seen from the position of the mouth 95 of the notch 94at the right-hand side of FIGURE 2 and in the middle portion of FIGURE 1that the pivot key portions 96 of its trunnion keys 98 are elfectivelyretained and cannot accidentally be dislodged, as is possible in certainprior removable sash window constructions, until the sash 14 or 16 isswung into a horizontal position such that the mouth 95 of each notch 94is aligned with the slot 58 in the spring casing 44.

I claim:

'1. A self-locking sash balance construction for a tiltably-removablesliding sash mounted in a window frame, said construction comprising anelongated sash guide adapted to be secured to at least one side of thewindow frame and having associated therewith an elongated hollow casinghaving an elongated longitudinal opening therein and containing anelongated internal longitudinal projection.

a resilient sash balancing instrumentality disposed within said casingand secured at one end thereto,

a slide body slidably mounted Within said casing and connected to theother end of said instrumentality and having a transverse bore thereindirected toward said opening,

a rotary locking element rotatably mounted in said bore and havingtherein a depression extending laterally thereof,

said depression in one position of rotation of said locking elementrelatively to said slide body matingly and slidably engaging saidprojection and in another position thereof surmounting said projectionto lock said slide body within said casing, said rotary locking elementhaving therein a key recess disposed in alignment with said opening, anda locking-element-rotating key member having an attachment portionadapted to be secured to the side of the window sash and a lock-rotatingkey portion extensible through said opening into operating engagementwith said key recess,

said key member being responsive to tilting of the window sashrelatively to the plane of the window frame for rotating said lockingelement into and out of locking engagement of said slide body with saidcasing.

2. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said key recess is disposed radially of said rotary lockingelement.

3. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 2,wherein said key recess comprises a notch having an open mouth at oneend thereof.

4. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said key recess and said lock-rotating key are of non-circularcross-section.

5. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said key member is of approximately L-shaped configuration. p 6.A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1, whereinsaid rotary locking element has an enlarged head on one end thereof andwherein said de pression extends diametrically of said head,

7. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said depression is disposed in one end of said rotary lockingelement and wherein said recess is disposed in the opposite end thereof.

8. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said slide body is provided with a groove adapted to communicatewith said key recess in the locking position of rotation of said rotarylocking element.

9. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said slide body is of elongated configuration and has a pair ofconnection portions at one end thereof spaced laterally apart from oneanother, and wherein said resilient sash-balancing instrumentalitycomprises a pair of tension springs secured to said connection 15portions.

10. A self-locking sash balance construction, according to claim 1,wherein said key recess is disposed radially of opening disposed thereinand has a rear wall with said internal longitudinal projection disposedthereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,062 9/1962 Peters et a1.49-181 XR 3,126,588 3/1964 Osten 49-181 XR 3,184,784 5/1965 Peters49-181 XR 3,399,490 9/1968 Hettinger 49-446 XR KENNETH DOWNEY, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

